A woman's place is not on the touchline (apparently)

When someone writing in the Daily Mail describes you as being "mean-spirited, misogynist and just plain outdated" you should probably take it as a sign that you might just be a little out of touch with the modern world. The remarks made by Sky presenter Richard Keys and pundit Andy Gray about lineswoman Sian Massey and West Ham vice-chairwoman Karren Brady have drummed up a lot of debate in recent days. In a way it seems almost wrong to attack both men. There has been a lot of self-righteous guff uttered in relation to the incident and today's sacking of Andy Gray by Sky (the people that bring you such enlightened viewing as Essex Babes, Northern Birds, Viewers Wives and red hot Mums) was most likely done with a view to protecting their own image rather than consciously striking a blow for the rights of women.

Nevertheless, sacking was the only option open. Such a measure makes clear that daft comments about women not understanding the offside rule are not deserving of a £1.7 million annual salary and a spot in front of the cameras discussing the biggest league in the world's most popular sport. This is not, as some will no doubt try and portray it, as a free speech issue. Nobody is trying to take away Andy Gray’s right to be a curmudgeonly old misogynist, but there is a time and a place for airing such views and the workplace is certainly not one of them. Those providing the excuse that these are the sort of remarks you hear from football fans up and down the country are also missing the point. That does not justify them. In the seventies and eighties terms such as 'nigger' and 'wog' were acceptable ways to describe the small minority of black players in the game at the time. Just because a particular form of intolerance is widespread does not make it any more acceptable.

Perhaps one of the more heartening aspects of this whole cringeworthy episode has been the support voiced by players and managers for Sian Massey. Let's hope that the controversy does not have a negative long term impact in driving women away from the game. Quite a few years back the powers that be in football decided to make a concerted effort to smashing the presence of racism in the sport. A similarly large stick needs to be taken to tackling the prejudices of sexism and homophobia in the game.

And the irony after all of this? Torres's goal was onside. Good call, lineswoman.